Natural gazes during online video conversations

ABSTRACT

A system of enhancing communication in a multi-participant video conference by tracking eye contact between participants, implemented by a computing processor, detects that a first participant is looking at a second participant on a first screen viewed by the first participant, where both are engaged in the multi-participant video conference. The system adjusts a first video representation of the first participant such that the first participant appears to look directly at the second participant on a second screen viewed by the second participant. The system adjusts the second video representation to look directly at the first participant to enhance communication between the first participant and the second participant by allowing the first participant and the second participant to look directly into each other&#39;s eyes during the multi-participant video conference.

BACKGROUND

Video conferencing allows participants to both see and hear each otheras though the participants were in the same room. The cameras thatcapture the live video feed are the tools that allow the participants tosee each other. Unfortunately, the cameras do not allow participants toexperience looking into each other's eyes during the video conference inthe same way that people naturally gaze into each other's eyes during aface to face conversation. This is because the screen itself is not thecamera, and the angle at which the camera takes the video causes theparticipant to appear to be looking in a different direction. Forexample, a camera mounted at the top of a laptop causes the participantto appear to be looking down for the duration of the video conference.Thus, participants cannot see who each participant is looking at. Havingparticipants look directly into their cameras is not a solution becauseevery participant would appear to be looking at every other participant,and, further, participants would not be able to follow presentationspresented on the screen if they are staring at their respective camera.There exists a need for video conferencing participants to experiencelooking at each other while each participant is focused on theirrespective screens, to enhance communication. There also exists a needfor video conferencing participants to know who is looking at them, andwho is, for example, paying attention, to the speaker, the presentationmaterials, or any other participant.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment disclosed herein, in a method for enhancingcommunication in a multi-participant video conference by tracking eyecontact between participants, implemented by a computing processor, whena first participant and a second participant are engaged in themulti-participant video conference, the processor detects that the firstparticipant is looking at the second participant on a first screenviewed by the first participant. The processor adjusts a first videorepresentation of the first participant on a second screen viewed by thesecond participant, where the first video representation of the firstparticipant appears to look directly at the second participant.

In one aspect of embodiments disclosed herein, the processor adjusts asecond video representation of the second participant on the firstscreen viewed by the first participant. The second video representationof the second participant indicates which participant, in themulti-participant video conference, the second participant is lookingat.

In one aspect of embodiments disclosed herein, when the method adjuststhe second video representation of the second participant on the firstscreen viewed by the first participant, the method adjusts the secondvideo representation to look directly at the first participant toenhance communication between the first participant and the secondparticipant by allowing the first participant and the second participantto look directly into each other's eyes during the multi-participantvideo conference.

In one aspect of embodiments disclosed herein, the method provides anindication, on the second screen, indicating to the second participant,that the first participant is looking at the second participant.

In one aspect of embodiments disclosed herein, the method provides anindication on the second screen, indicating to the second participant,that a plurality of the participants in the multi-participant videoconference are looking at the second participant.

In one aspect of embodiments disclosed herein, the method provides, onthe second screen, information associated with the first participant.

In one aspect of embodiments disclosed herein, when the method provides,on the second screen, information associated with the first participant,the method identifies the first participant using facial recognitiontechniques. The method provides, on the second screen, for the benefitof the second participant, the identity of the first participant.

In one aspect of embodiments disclosed herein, the method provides atimer to at least one of the first participant and the secondparticipant, indicating how long the first participant looks at thesecond participant.

In one aspect of embodiments disclosed herein, when the method detectsthat the first participant is looking at the second participant on thefirst screen viewed by the first participant where the first participantand the second participant are engaged in the multi-participant videoconference, the method determines, on the first screen viewed by thefirst participant, a location of a visual gaze of the first participantwhen viewing the multi-participant video conference, where at least oneof the participants of the multi-participant video conference isrendered on the first screen. The method associates the location on thefirst screen with the second participant to determine that the firstparticipant is looking at the second participant.

In one aspect of embodiments disclosed herein, the method provides anindication to the first participant of the location on the first screenwhere the first participant is looking.

In one aspect of embodiments disclosed herein, when the method detectsthat the first participant is looking at the second participant on thefirst screen viewed by the first participant, where the firstparticipant and the second participant are engaged in themulti-participant video conference, the method determines that thesecond participant is comprised of a plurality of sub-participants. Themethod detects that the first participant is looking at one of theplurality of sub-participants. When the method adjusts the first videorepresentation of the first participant on the second screen viewed bythe second participant, the method adjusts the first videorepresentation where the first video representation of the firstparticipant appears to look directly at the one of the plurality ofsub-participants.

System and computer program products corresponding to theabove-summarized methods are also described and claimed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system for enhancing communicationin a multi-participant video conference by tracking eye contact betweenparticipants, according to embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example embodiment of a multi-participant videoconference with enhanced communication.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of a multi-participant videoconference with enhanced communication including a timer.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example embodiment of a multi-participant videoconference with enhanced communication where some of the participantsare comprised of sub-participants.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method forenhancing communication in a multi-participant video conference bytracking eye contact between participants, according to embodimentsdisclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for enhancing communication in amulti-participant video conference by tracking eye contact betweenparticipants according to embodiments of the present invention. Thecomputer system 100 is operationally coupled to a processor orprocessing units 106, a memory 101, and a bus 109 that couples varioussystem components, including the memory 101 to the processor 106. Thebus 109 represents one or more of any of several types of bus structure,including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, anaccelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of avariety of bus architectures. The memory 101 may include computerreadable media in the form of volatile memory, such as random accessmemory (RAM) 102 or cache memory 103, or non-volatile storage media 104.The memory 101 may include at least one program product having a set ofat least one program code module 105 that are configured to carry outthe functions of embodiment of the present invention when executed bythe processor 106. The computer system 100 may also communicate with oneor more external devices 111, such as a display 110, via I/O interfaces107. The computer system 100 may communicate with one or more networksvia network adapter 108. The computer system 100 may communicate withone or more databases 112 via network adapter 108.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example embodiment of a multi-participant videoconference with enhanced communication. Participants 50-1 through 50-6are participating in a multi-participant video conference. A firstparticipant (not shown) is viewing the multi-participant videoconference on the display 110. In other words, the first participant isstaring at the display 110, viewing the multi-participant videoconference. The display 110 may be any type of screen, monitor, etc. onwhich a participant would view the video conference. The camera 75captures video of the first participant, allowing the other participantsto see the first participant on their respective displays. The methodmay execute on the computer system 100. In an example embodiment, themethod may execute within the camera 75. The camera 75 may be locatedoutside the screen. In this example, the first participant is staring atparticipant 50-2. The method, using eye-gaze direction detection,provides an indication 90 to the first participant where, on the display110, the first participant is looking. In this example, participant 50-2is looking at the first participant while the first participant islooking directly at participant 50-2. None of the other participants50-1, and 50-3 through 50-6 are looking at the first participant.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of a multi-participant videoconference with enhanced communication including a timer 25.Participants 50-1 through 50-6 are participating in a multi-participantvideo conference. A first participant (not shown) is viewing themulti-participant video conference on the display 110 (i.e., the firstparticipant is staring at the display 110). The camera 75 allows theother participants to see the first participant on their respectivedisplays. In this example, the first participant is staring atparticipant 50-2. The method, using eye-gaze direction detection,provides an indication 90 to the first participant where, on the display110, the first participant is looking. The timer 25 indicates to thefirst participant how long the first participant has been staring atparticipant 50-2. In this example, participant 50-2 is looking at thefirst participant while the first participant is also looking directlyat participant 50-2. In an example embodiment, a different timer (notshown) indicates to the first participant how long the secondparticipant (i.e., participant 50-2) has been staring at the firstparticipant. Participants 50-1, 50-4 and 50-6 are also looking at thefirst participant while participants 50-3 and 50-5 are not.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example embodiment of a multi-participant videoconference with enhanced communication where some of the participantsalso have sub-participants. Participants 50-2, 50-3, 50-5, 50-6, 50-7and 50-8 are participating in a multi-participant video conference.Participants 50-7 and 50-8 are each comprised of a plurality ofsub-participants. A first participant (not shown) is viewing themulti-participant video conference on the display 110 (i.e., the firstparticipant is staring at the display 110). The camera 75 allows theother participants to see the first participant on their respectivedisplays. In this example, the first participant is staring at one ofthe sub-participants of participant 50-7 while the sub-participants ofparticipant 50-7 are looking at the first participant. The method, usingeye-gaze direction detection, provides an indication 90 to the firstparticipant where, on the display 110, the first participant is looking.In this example, the indication 90 displays which of thesub-participants (in participant 50-7) the first participant is staringat. Participants 50-2, 50-5, 50-6 and 50-8 are also looking at the firstparticipant while participants 50-3 are not.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a method for enhancing communicationin a multi-participant video conference by tracking eye contact betweenparticipants. At 200, the method, via the computing processor 106,detects that a first participant is looking at a second participant on afirst screen viewed by the first participant. The first participant andthe second participant are engaged in the multi-participant videoconference. In an example embodiment, the method, using eye-gazedirection detection, detects that the first participant is staring attheir screen (i.e., display 110) at a location on the screen where avideo representation of the second participant is rendered.

At 201, the method, via the computing processor 106, adjusts a firstvideo representation of the first participant on a second screen viewedby the second participant, where the first video representation of thefirst participant appears to look directly at the second participant. Asthe second participant stares at their screen, the first participantappears to be staring directly at the second participant. Any number oftechniques may be used for visual adjustment of eye direction of thefirst participant to adjust the visual gaze of the first participant sothat the first video representation of the first participant appears tobe staring directly at the second participant as the second participantstares at their screen.

At 202, the method, via the computing processor 106, adjusts a secondvideo representation of the second participant on the first screenviewed by the first participant, where the second video representationof the second participant indicates which participant, in themulti-participant video conference, the second participant is lookingat. The first participant can now see who the second participant islooking at, whether that is the first participant, or any otherparticipant in the multi-participant video conference. Any number oftechniques may be used for visual adjustment of eye direction of thesecond participant to adjust the visual gaze of the second participantso that the second video representation of the second participantappears to be staring at whichever participant the second participant islooking at as the second participant views the multi-participant videoconference on their screen (i.e., the second screen). Other participantsin the video conference can also see who the second participant islooking at.

In an example embodiment, when the method adjusts the second videorepresentation of the second participant on the first screen viewed bythe first participant, the method adjusts the second videorepresentation to look directly at the first participant. This is toenhance communication between the first participant and the secondparticipant by allowing the first participant and the second participantto look directly into each other's eyes during the multi-participantvideo conference, just as they would if they were conversing face toface. The first and second participants have the impression that theyare looking each other in the eyes, which will benefit the naturalcommunication channels that humans use. During presentations, theparticipant delivering the presentation (i.e., the presenter) will knowif participants are looking at the presenter. Participants who ask aquestion will see whether they have the presenter's attention.Participants who are not looking at anyone may be viewed as notparticipating in the video conference/presentation.

At 203, the method provides an indication, on the second screen,indicating to the second participant, that the first participant islooking at the second participant. For example, the indication may be avisual indication (for example, highlighting, use of different colorsfor different participants, etc.) on the screen, or an audibleindication. In an example embodiment, the second participant may belooking elsewhere, and the indication notifies the second participantthat the first participant is looking at the second participant, andperhaps, wishes to speak with the second participant, direct a questionto the second participant, etc.

In an example embodiment, the method provides an indication on thesecond screen, indicating to the second participant, that a plurality ofthe participants in the multi-participant video conference are lookingat the second participant. The method provides an indication to thesecond participant which participants in the multi-participant videoconference are looking at the second participant. For example, theindication may be a visual indication on the screen, or an audibleindication. The method may provide a different audible indication foreach of the participants so that the second participant knows whichparticipants are looking at the second participant. This is helpful, forexample, when the second participant is delivering a presentation. Thesecond participant can see and/or hear, via this indication, whichparticipants are engaged, and watching the presentation.

In an example embodiment, the method provides, on the second screen,information associated with the first participant. The information mayinclude, for example, the first participant's name, backgroundinformation, etc.

In an example embodiment, when the method provides, on the secondscreen, information associated with the first participant, the methodidentifies the first participant by using facial recognition techniques.The method then provides, on the second screen, for the benefit of thesecond participant, the identity of the first participant. Using facialrecognition techniques, the method may provide to the second participantinformation regarding the identity of the first participant (who islooking at the second participant during the multi-participant videoconference). The method may also correlate the identity of the firstparticipant with any additional information that is associated with thefirst participant (such as company or department where the firstparticipant is employed, etc.).

In an example embodiment, the method provides a timer to at least one ofthe first participant and the second participant, indicating how longthe first participant looks at the second participant. The timer mayinform the first participant how long the first participant is lookingat the second participant. The timer may also inform the secondparticipant how long that first participant is looking at the secondparticipant. For example, during a presentation, it is helpful to knowhow long a presenter (or presentation) maintained the audience'sinterest. How long the participants looked at the presenter or thepresenter's materials may indicate the audience's interest. It may alsobe helpful, from the presenter's point of view, to know how long thepresenter focused on each of the participants, so as to maintain eyecontact consistently with all the participants. The timer may provideanalytics regarding presentations, usability studies for variousapplications that are presented on a screen, etc.

In an example embodiment, when the method detects that the firstparticipant is looking at the second participant on the first screenviewed by the first participant, where the first participant and thesecond participant are engaged in the multi-participant videoconference, the method determines, on the first screen viewed by thefirst participant, a location of a visual gaze of the first participantwhen viewing the multi-participant video conference, where at least oneof the participants of the multi-participant video conference isrendered on the first screen. The method then associates the location onthe first screen with the second participant to determine that the firstparticipant is looking at the second participant. The method tracks theprecise eye-movement over a screen with multiple faces of the otherparticipants in the multi-participant video conference, and providesprecise gaze direction for the specific face on the screen. In otherwords, the method determines where, on the first participant's screen,the first participant is looking, and then associates that location onthe screen with where, on the first participant's screen, the videorepresentation of the second participant is rendered, to determine thatthe first participant is looking at the second participant.

In an example embodiment, the method provides an indication to the firstparticipant of the location on the first screen where the firstparticipant is looking. The method provides to the first participant anindicator 90 to inform the first participant where on the first screenthe first participant is looking, essentially providing the firstparticipant with “Who am I looking at?” information. This is helpful ifthe first participant starts to lose focus during the multi-participantvideo conference, and the first participant's eyes start to drift whilethe first participant should be focused on the participant who isspeaking. The method notifies the first participant where, on the firstparticipant's screen, the first participant is looking during themulti-participant video conference. This becomes more helpful as thenumber of participants in the multi-participant video conferenceincreases so that the first participant doesn't lose focus, andinadvertently stare at another participant when not intending to.

In an example embodiment, when the method detects that the firstparticipant is looking at the second participant on the first screenviewed by the first participant, where the first participant and thesecond participant are engaged in the multi-participant videoconference, the method determines that the second participant iscomprised of a plurality of sub-participants. The participants in themulti-participant video conference may be individual participants, oreach video conference participant may be comprised of a group of peoplewho are sharing a video camera 75 and screen (such as a group of peoplesharing a conference room). The method detects that the firstparticipant is looking at one of the plurality of sub-participants, forexample, a group of people gathered on one side of a table.

In an example embodiment, when the method adjusts the first videorepresentation of the first participant on the second screen viewed bythe second participant, the method adjusts the first videorepresentation so that the first video representation of the firstparticipant appears to look directly at the one of the plurality ofsub-participants. In an example embodiment, the method also provides anindication 90 to the first participant, indicating which of theplurality of sub-participants the first participant is looking at, asshown in FIG. 4.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention hasbeen presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to beexhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modificationsand variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of enhancing communication in a multi-participant video conference by tracking eye contact between participants, implemented by a computing processor, the method comprising: detecting, by the computing processor, that a first participant is looking at a second participant on a first screen viewed by the first participant, wherein the first participant and the second participant are engaged in the multi-participant video conference; adjusting, by the computing processor, a first video representation of the first participant on a second screen viewed by the second participant, wherein the first video representation of the first participant appears to look directly at the second participant; and providing a timer to at least one of the first participant and the second participant, indicating how long the first participant looks at the second participant.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: adjusting, by the computing processor, a second video representation of the second participant on the first screen viewed by the first participant, wherein the second video representation of the second participant indicates which participant, in the multi-participant video conference, the second participant is looking at.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein adjusting the second video representation of the second participant on the first screen viewed by the first participant comprises: adjusting the second video representation to look directly at the first participant to enhance communication between the first participant and the second participant by allowing the first participant and the second participant to look directly into each other's eyes during the multi-participant video conference.
 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising: providing an indication, on the second screen, indicating to the second participant, that the first participant is looking at the second participant.
 5. The method of claim 4 further comprising: providing an indication on the second screen, indicating to the second participant, that a plurality of the participants in the multi-participant video conference are looking at the second participant.
 6. The method of claim 4 further comprising: providing, on the second screen, information associated with the first participant.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein providing, on the second screen, information associated with the first participant comprises: identifying the first participant using facial recognition techniques; and providing, on the second screen, for the benefit of the second participant, the identity of the first participant.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting that the first participant is looking at the second participant on the first screen viewed by the first participant, wherein the first participant and the second participant are engaged in the multi-participant video conference comprises: determining, on the first screen viewed by the first participant, a location of a visual gaze of the first participant when viewing the multi-participant video conference, wherein at least one of the participants of the multi-participant video conference is rendered on the first screen; and associating the location on the first screen with the second participant to determine that the first participant is looking at the second participant.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising: providing an indication to the first participant of the location on the first screen where the first participant is looking.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting that the first participant is looking at the second participant on the first screen viewed by the first participant, wherein the first participant and the second participant are engaged in the multi-participant video conference comprises: determining that the second participant is comprised of a plurality of sub-participants; and detecting that the first participant is looking at one of the plurality of sub-participants; and wherein adjusting the first video representation of the first participant on the second screen viewed by the second participant comprises: adjusting the first video representation wherein the first video representation of the first participant appears to look directly at the one of the plurality of sub-participants.
 11. A computer program product for enhancing communication in a multi-participant video conference by tracking eye contact between participants, the computer program product comprising: a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the program code causing a computing processor to: detect, by the computing processor, that a first participant is looking at a second participant on a first screen viewed by the first participant, wherein the first participant and the second participant are engaged in the multi-participant video conference; adjust, by the computing processor, a first video representation of the first participant on a second screen viewed by the second participant, wherein the first video representation of the first participant appears to look directly at the second participant; and providing a timer to at least one of the first participant and the second participant, indicating how long the first participant looks at the second participant.
 12. The computer program product of claim 11 further configured to: adjust, by the computing processor, a second video representation of the second participant on the first screen viewed by the first participant, wherein the second video representation of the second participant indicates which participant, in the multi-participant video conference, the second participant is looking at.
 13. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the computer readable program code configured to adjust the second video representation of the second participant on the first screen viewed by the first participant is further configured to: adjust the second video representation to look directly at the first participant to enhance communication between the first participant and the second participant by allowing the first participant and the second participant to look directly into each other's eyes during the multi-participant video conference.
 14. The computer program product of claim 11 further configured to: provide an indication, on the second screen, indicating to the second participant, that the first participant is looking at the second participant.
 15. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the computer readable program code configured to detect that the first participant is looking at the second participant on the first screen viewed by the first participant, wherein the first participant and the second participant are engaged in the multi-participant video conference is further configured to: determine, on the first screen viewed by the first participant, a location of a visual gaze of the first participant when viewing the multi-participant video conference, wherein at least one of the participants of the multi-participant video conference is rendered on the first screen; and associate the location on the first screen with the second participant to determine that the first participant is looking at the second participant.
 16. A system comprising: a computing processor; and a computer readable storage medium operationally coupled to the processor, the computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith to be executed by the computing processor, the computer readable program code configured to: detect, by the computing processor, that a first participant is looking at a second participant on a first screen viewed by the first participant, wherein the first participant and the second participant are engaged in the multi-participant video conference; adjust, by the computing processor, a first video representation of the first participant on a second screen viewed by the second participant, wherein the first video representation of the first participant appears to look directly at the second participant; and providing a timer to at least one of the first participant and the second participant, indicating how long the first participant looks at the second participant.
 17. The system of claim 16 further configured to: adjust, by the computing processor, a second video representation of the second participant on the first screen viewed by the first participant, wherein the second video representation of the second participant indicates which participant, in the multi-participant video conference, the second participant is looking at.
 18. The system of claim 17 wherein the computer readable program code configured to adjust the second video representation of the second participant on the first screen viewed by the first participant is further configured to: adjust the second video representation to look directly at the first participant to enhance communication between the first participant and the second participant by allowing the first participant and the second participant to look directly into each other's eyes during the multi-participant video conference.
 19. The system of claim 16 wherein the computer readable program code configured to detect that the first participant is looking at the second participant on the first screen viewed by the first participant, wherein the first participant and the second participant are engaged in the multi-participant video conference is further configured to: determine, on the first screen viewed by the first participant, a location of a visual gaze of the first participant when viewing the multi-participant video conference, wherein at least one of the participants of the multi-participant video conference is rendered on the first screen; and associate the location on the first screen with the second participant to determine that the first participant is looking at the second participant. 